Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon): Mineralogical and physicochemical characterization for use in ceramic products

Mefire, Abiba Nkalih; Njoya, André; Fouateu, Rose Yongue; Mache, Jacques Richard; Tapon, N.A.; Nzeugang, Aubin Nzeukou; Chinje, U. Melo; Pilate, P.; Siniapkine, S.; Ngono, A.; Fagel, Nathalie

doi:10.1180/claymin.2015.050.5.04

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…2b). They are residual primary clays resulting from the weathering of the Panafrican granite–gneiss basement (Nkalih et al , 2015). Close to the study area, Njoya et al (2006) described a kaolin deposit overlain by rolling stones from the mylonitic cliff and by a <1 m thick grey, powdery soil, which is distinct from the red lateritic soil of the surrounding area.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralogy and geochemical features of Foumban clay deposits (west Cameroon): genesis and potential applications

et al. 2018

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Five clay deposits in Foumban, west Cameroon, were studied for their morphological, mineralogical and geochemical properties to determine their suitability for ceramics. The clays were examined with X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Field studies showed that a homogeneous clayey layer occurs at the upper part of the laterite cover of the interfluves, while the valleys are occupied by a clayey heterogeneous hydromorphic material. The clays are composed of kaolinite, illite, smectite and chlorite, associated with quartz, K-feldspars, plagioclase, goethite, traces of rutile and hematite. Geochemical analyses of these samples show a relatively large amount of SiO2(45–71%), Al2O3(14–31%) and relatively little Fe2O3(up to 11%), suggesting weathering of mainly granitic and rhyolitic parent rocks. The majority of these clays may be used in the production of structural ceramics such as bricks (refractory or not) and tiles. The relatively high proportion of the alkalis (K2O + Na2O; 6–8%) in some samples from Marom and Njindare areas might be responsible for the low firing temperatures. The abundance of smectite limits the application of some Koutaba and Marom clays for structural ceramics, while the high Fe2O3contents (>8%) in some Bangourain clays indicate that some pre-treatment might be necessary prior to use.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralogy and geochemical features of Foumban clay deposits (west Cameroon): genesis and potential applications

et al. 2018

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“…5°35 ′ 20 ′′ N and 10°41 ′ 26 ′′ E for KG and 5°51 ′ N and 10°59 ′ E for MY3. The MY3 and KK clays are residuals derived from the alteration of granites and mylonites, which are predominant rocks in these regions, whereas KG is a hydromorphic clay (Tassongwa et al, 2014;Nkalih et al, 2015;Njindam et al, 2018;Pountouenchi et al, 2018). The samples have been described in previous studies (Pountouenchi et al, 2018;Njuhou et al, 2023).…”

Section: Raw Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The policy of sustainable development in Cameroon is mainly orientated towards supporting the value of locally available materials. Many studies have been carried out to identify the potential of local clays for various applications (Nkoumbou et al, 2009;Tassongwa et al, 2014;Nkalih et al, 2015Nkalih et al, , 2018Njindam et al, 2018;Pountouenchi et al, 2018;Mouafon et al, 2020). Several exploitable clay deposits were recently found in Foumban located ∼350 km from Yaounde in western Cameroon (Tassongwa et al, 2014).…”

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Characterization of refractory bricks from selected Cameroonian kaolins

Pountouenchi,

Njoya,

Mbey

et al. 2023

Clay miner.

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Three clay materials (codded MY3, KG and KK) from western Cameroon were selected and investigated for the production of refractory bricks. Samples MY3 and KG are kaolinite-rich materials, having clay mineral contents of 88% and 72%, respectively, whereas KK is a sand-rich material with a total clay content of 44%. Chamottes were prepared using each clay, and the ground chamottes were later used in the refractory formulation, with each raw clay used as a binding phase. After firing, the X-ray diffraction analyses of all of the refractory bricks indicated the same mineral assemblage made of quartz, cristobalite and mullite. The cristobalite is due to high-temperature conversion of quartz, whereas the mullite is due to clay mineral conversion. The evaluation of the linear shrinkage, physical properties (including bulk density and open porosity) and mechanical testing through refractoriness under load and compressive strength indicates that all of these clays could be used as raw materials for standard clay refractory materials. These results stand as a proof for the potential for these locally available materials to be used as raw materials for refractories that could be locally produced to reduce the cost of access to refractory raw materials faced by industries located in Cameroon.

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“…3c). This is due to the effective dehydroxylation of kaolinite, which is transformed into metakaolinite starting at 500°C (Mefire et al 2015).…”

Section: Mineralogical Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralogical, Chemical, Geotechnical and Mechanical Investigations of Bafang Lateritic Fine Soils Formed on Basalts (West-Cameroon) for Road Embankment Purpose

Hyoumbi¹,

Pizette²,

Wouatong³

et al. 2018

ESR

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The present paper treats the relationship between geotechnical parameters and the mineralogical compositions, in order to understand the behavior of the Bafang lateritic fine soils and their efficient use as road embankment materials on the other hand. Thus, the field campaigns have permitted to distinguish two facies of Bafang lateritic fine soils: reddish and yellowish facies. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), the thermo-gravimetry analysis (TGA) and the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) have revealed that the reddish facies contents: kaolinite (53.34% -48.29%); hematite (16.62% - 17.40 %); gibbsite (8.26 % - 16.54%), ilmenite (7.6 % -7.98%), quartz (1.92 % - 4.65 %), illite (2.65% - 1.99 %) and accessories minerals as florencite (1.45%); montmorillonite (0.90 %) and plagioclase (0.69 %); while the yellowish facies is composed of : 65.1 % kaolinite, 11.2 % gibbsite, 9.64 % goethite, 7.02 % quartz, 3.23 % ilmenite and 2.08 % of illite. Their Silica/sexquioxide ratios correspond to those of moderate laterite. The geotechnical and mechanical characteristics have shown that the reddish and yellowish facies are respectively silty clay and sandy silt. They are plastic to very high plastic and moderately clayey to clayey materials. Moreover, they are medium swelling to high swelling. The IBR values more than 40% and the soaked CBR values prove that these materials belong to the S4 bearing capacity class. The minimum values of UCS and Rt are respectively 1.7 MPa and 0.17 MPa. Then, the results of geotechnical and mechanical properties combining to those of XRD, TGA and XRF have demonstrated that the fine lateritic soils with low silica/sexquioxide ratios values (less than 1.6) are suitable for road embankment.

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Occurrences of kaolin in Koutaba (west Cameroon): Mineralogical and physicochemical characterization for use in ceramic products

Cited by 17 publications

References 30 publications

Mineralogy and geochemical features of Foumban clay deposits (west Cameroon): genesis and potential applications

Mineralogy and geochemical features of Foumban clay deposits (west Cameroon): genesis and potential applications

Characterization of refractory bricks from selected Cameroonian kaolins

Mineralogical, Chemical, Geotechnical and Mechanical Investigations of Bafang Lateritic Fine Soils Formed on Basalts (West-Cameroon) for Road Embankment Purpose

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